OpenStax
Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Orchestral Instruments
This is a brief introduction to the various instruments on the modern orchestra. It is broken into sections based on the instrument families. Each instrument is briefly defined.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Graphing Families of Quadratic Functions
Students can use the Transform app to explore families of quadratic functions. Generalization about the effect of a, b and c coefficients have on the shape and position of the graph in general form, and the effect of a, h, and k in...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Woodwind
This lesson helps students identify the woodwind family of instruments in an orchestra by sight and sound. The students will also identify which instruments have a single reed, double reed, or contain no reed.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Biggest Box
A classic problem looking at maximizing volume by varying the height of a box. Uses graphing calculators to analyze data collected and to model a cubic equation. Look for points that maximize volume while developing a preliminary notion...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: The Family of Linear Functions
Students can use a graphing calculator to explore families of linear functions. This Technology Lab accompanies Lesson 5-9 from the 2007 Holt, Rinehart and Winston textbook.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Greatest Area Activity
A classic problem looking at maximizing the area of rectangles given fixed perimeters. Uses graphing calculators to analyze data collected and to model a parabolic equation. Compiling class data provides a preliminary glance at families...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Parts Is Parts
Students find a sample of a given size with a given mean. In this activity, students show one way 100 families can have a mean of 2.58 children and understand the meaning of the term "average".
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: Follow the Flock
Based off of the hit television show NUMB3RS, this lesson introduces students to the lesser-studied topic of Flock Theory. The lesson is framed in the context of groups of birds, which follow a few simple rules. By using this algorithm,...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Orchestra Instruments
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart describes the various instrument families and the instruments that fit in each family. Sound files are attached to the instruments so that students can hear what each sounds like.
Quia
Quia: Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction "Musical Hangman"
Test your knowledge of instruments of the orchestra with this interactive hangman game. Click on letters to guess the mystery word!
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Clifford the Big Red Dog: Let's Make Music!
Explore music at home and in class with homemade instruments. In "Top of the Charts," Emily Elizabeth gets inspired to create the happiest song in the world. Emily Elizabeth, Jack, Pablo, Samantha, and Clifford pool their talents and...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Instrument Families
[Free Registration/Login Required] Discover which musical instruments fit into which categories. A comprehensive listing of instruments with pictures is included in the flipchart.
Quia
Quia: Music Mania! "Rags to Riches"
Here's fun "game show" for students to test their knowledge of musical instruments. Players "win" up to a million dollars in this "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" style game.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Instrument Families of the Orchestra: Percussion
In this lesson plan, students will learn to identify the percussion instruments in an orchestra by sight and sound. Students will also learn to group the percussion instruments into pitched and unpitched instruments.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Exploring Families of Functions
This activity provides students an opportunity to discover the similarities involved in shifting the parent functions for absolute value, quadratic, cubic, radical, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Students will also be given the...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Similarities and Differences in Families of Functions
In this activity, students compare the properties and attributes of different functions.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Understanding the Linear Equation (Function Families)
This activity can be used with ninth graders to assist their understanding of the parts of the equation y=mx+b.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Let's Play Ball With Families of Graphs
This activity is designed for students to use real-time data to generate a family of parabolic graphs. The data set will be generated by graphing the heights of a ball bounce with respect to time. Students will determine the regression...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Families of Functions Using Ti Navigator System
In this Lesson Concept we use whole-class participation in the Activity Center to cultivate students understanding of how the graph of a basic function can vary through the change of a parameter. The classroom-group environment can...
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Orchestra Seating Chart: Baroque, Classical, Romantic
See how the number of orchestra members increased from the Baroque period through the Classical, up to the Romantic. You can print each orchestra seating chart.
San Diego State University
Orchestration
Through playing "Orchestration," students learn about each instrument and the group to which it belongs. Actual instruments should be shown and demonstrated in class prior to playing the game. Create this fun card game for your music...
San Diego State University
Four Part Rummy
A fun card game that you can create for your music class. Students should first be given instruction on the various instruments and their ranges. Then students will be given the card game to help them remember and reinforce the concept...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Music Across America
This curriculum unit devoted to the study of American music features five lesson plans that help students identify instruments, recognize styles and genres of American music and begin to comprehend the rich diversity of American music.
BBC
Bbc Orchestras: Guide to the Orchestra
Enjoy learning about the different instruments of the orchestra with this well designed website. Divided into the various families, you can read about the instruments as well as listen to them.